Blabbermouth: "[Life Is But A Dream...] Is A Conquering Album..."

"While "Life Is But A Dream..." is a triumphant example of how much talent the members of AVENGED SEVENFOLD possess, it's also a head-scratcher. Many bands dabble in different styles of music and blend new voices into their sound, but this is a total 180 from what many consider, well, AVENGED SEVENFOLD. It's a conquering album, but time will tell how it stands up to the rest of the band's celebrated catalog. Either way, there's something to respect about a band that obviously adheres to their singular vision, without outside influences, even if that means confusing some fans along the way."